Virgilio S.

Almario

Virgilio Senadren Almario (born March 9,

1944), better known by his pen name Rio
Alma, is a Filipino author, poet, critic,
translator, editor, teacher, and cultural
manager.[1] He is a National Artist of the
Philippines. He formerly served as the
chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang
Filipino (KWF), the government agency
mandated to promote and standardize the
use of the Filipino language. On January 5,
2017, Almario was also elected as the
chairman of the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA).[2]

Virgilio Almario at a poetry reading in

June 2011.

Early life and education

Growing up in Bulacan, Almario sought his
education at the City of Manila and
completed his degree in A.B. Political
Science at the University of the Philippines
Diliman.
His life as a poet
Virgilio Almario
started when he
took master's units
in education at the
University of the
East where he
became associated
Born Virgilio
with Rogelio G. Senadrin
Mangahas and Almario
Lamberto E. March 9, 1944
San Miguel,
Antonio. He did not
Bulacan,
finish the Philippine
program.[3] Commonwealt
Pen Rio Alma
He only took his name

M.A. in Filipino in Occupation Poet ·

literary
1974 at the critic ·
lecturer
University of the
· editor
Philippines Diliman.
Nationality Filipino

Career Alma mater Univers

of the
A prolific writer, he Philippi
spearheaded the Diliman
Univers
second successful
of the E
modernist
Literary Philippin
movement in movement Modernis
Filipino poetry Notable Order of
together with awards National
Artists of
Mangahas and
the
Antonio. His earliest Philippines
pieces of literary University
criticism were of the
collected in Ang Philippines
Centennial
Makata sa Panahon
Award,
ng Makina (1972), Amado V.
now considered the Hernandez
Award,
first book of literary
Balagtas
criticism in Filipino. Award for
Later, in the years of Poetry and
martial law, he set Essay
Spouse Emelina
aside modernism
B.
and formalism and Soriano
took interest in Children Asa
nationalism, politics Victoria,
and activist Ani
Rosa,
movement. As a
Agno
critic, his critical Virgilio
works deal with the
issue of national Literature portal

language.

Almario campaigned against the usage

and proliferation of siyokoy words in the
Filipino language, which according to him
were improperly derived from English and
Spanish.[4] He also advocated the use of
Filipinas as the Philippines official name in
both Filipino and English languages.[5]

Aside from being a critic, Almario engaged

in translating and editing. He has
translated the best contemporary poets of
the world. He has also translated for
theater production the plays of Nick
Joaquin, Bertolt Brecht, Euripides and
Maxim Gorki. Other important translations
include the famous works of the
Philippines' national hero, José Rizal,
namely Noli Me Tangere and El
filibusterismo. For these two, he was
awarded the 1999 award for translation by
the Manila Critics Circle.[6][7]

Almario has been a recipient of numerous

awards such as several Palanca Awards,
two grand prizes from the Cultural Center
of the Philippines, the Makata ng Taon of
the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, the TOYM
for literature, and the Southeast Asia Write
Award of Bangkok.
He was an instructor at the Lagao Central
Elementary School from 1969 to 1972. In
2003, he was appointed Dean of the
College of Arts and Letters at the
University of the Philippines Diliman. On
June 25 of the same year, he was
proclaimed National Artist for Literature.[8]

Almario is also the founder and workshop

director of the Linangan sa Imahen,
Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), an organization of
poets who write in Filipino.[9] Award-
winning writers and poets such as Roberto
and Rebecca Añonuevo, Romulo Baquiran
Jr., Michael Coroza, Jerry Gracio, and Vim
Nadera are but some of the products of
the LIRA workshop.

He was a founding member of the Gallan

sa Arte at Tula (GAT), along with fellow
poets Teo Antonio and Mike Bigornia.

Works

Poetry collections

Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo (1984)

Palipad-Hangin. (1985)
Katon Para sa Limang Pandama. (1987)
Sentimental. (2004)
Estremelenggoles. (2004)
Memo Mulang Gimokudan. (2005)
Dust Devils. (2005)
Sonetos Postumos, book of poems with
translation by Marne Kilates and
paintings by National Artist Ang Kiukok.
(2006)
Tatlong Pasyon sa Ating Panahon,
poems for children with illustrations by
Mark Justiniani, Neil Doloricon,
Ferdinand Doctolero. (2006)
Buwan, Buwang, Bulawan. (2009)
UP Diksyunaryong Filipino
Kulo at Kolorum
Baklang Kolorum